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lifting weight stuns growth?

I am 16, Male.

I am planning on lifting some weights (not those two handed heavy ones). Just some one handed ones, not heavy.

some questions.

1. does it stun your growth? (I am 16)
2. If I keep on lifting weights, then I will get more muscles?
3. what happens if I build up alot of muscles, and then suddenly stop working out any more. Will all my muscles be gone?

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Reply 1
Anonymous
I am 16, Male.

I am planning on lifting some weights (not those two handed heavy ones). Just some one handed ones, not heavy.

some questions.

1. does it stun your growth? (I am 16)
2. If I keep on lifting weights, then I will get more muscles?
3. what happens if I build up alot of muscles, and then suddenly stop working out any more. Will all my muscles be gone?


1. No.
2. No, muscles don't just appear. But they may get bigger.
3. Your muscles won't go anywhere, but won't get any bigger. If you change your patterns, they will tend to look smaller.

What are your goals?
Reply 2
Anonymous
I am 16, Male.

I am planning on lifting some weights (not those two handed heavy ones). Just some one handed ones, not heavy.

some questions.

1. does it stun your growth? (I am 16)
2. If I keep on lifting weights, then I will get more muscles?
3. what happens if I build up alot of muscles, and then suddenly stop working out any more. Will all my muscles be gone?

1.No
2.Your muscles will reconstruct to adapt to the weights you've been training with.
3.Did you see Arnold Schwarzenegger's flabby muscles?
It doesn't stunt your growth but I used to be in swimming to a national levels and serious health warnings are attached to weight training before the age of 18. Firstly this is what happened to one of my mates who was also in the national squad: in order to get bigger he did loads of weights and his muscles "outgrew" his bones... this can happen when you are still growing and basically puts you out of action for months and seriously damages you as you cant do anything until your bones grow in.

However, this is a pretty extreme example. If you want your muscles to look big the way to do it is fewer reps but with heavier weights. If you do loads and loads of repetition with a small weight it will make no difference.

I stopped lifting weights when I stopped swimming (it gets really boring after a while) and yes, I can confirm your muscles will substantially reduce in size.
Reply 4
Thanks for all replies and warning (Lewis-HuStuJCR). So that means my muscles will become flabby if I dont work out?

I am thinking of doing alot of repetitions with small weights. WIll that increase my strength/muscles size?

My point in working out, is because I dont have much muscles, and my hands (arms) looks very skinny!
Reply 5
So your aim is muscle mass?

Then work with a weight which you can only do 6-8 reps with, for 3 sets.
Reply 6
just so I can get stronger.

can you explain to me meaning of the 6-8 repetition and the 3 sets thing. I am new to this weight lifting area. :smile:
Reply 7
There's a difference between lifting for mass and lifting for strength.

If you want to lift for mass you should aim to do say, 3 sets. Each set consists of repetitions or reps. In each set do 6-8 reps of said exercise.

If you want to lift for strength aim to do 3 sets of 4-6 reps (I think, never trained primarily for strength).
Reply 8
ok thanks.

So 3 sets, of 4-6 reps? Both arms?

Is 1 rep, just going up and down once?
Reply 9
Anonymous
ok thanks.

So 3 sets, of 4-6 reps? Both arms?

Is 1 rep, just going up and down once?


From the sounds of your first post though, it sounds like you want muscles. Training for mass will obviously give you a lot more strength aswell. Just make sure you know what your goals are.

You dont want one big arm and one small do you? Personally I'd recommend you train all of your body, but only probably if you get to the stage where you want to take it further.
Reply 10
And yes, one rep is just up and down.
Reply 11
ok thanks. My main reason is I would like some more strength. I wouldnt mind having my muscles look a bit bigger though. :wink:
Reply 12
I'd say definetely go for 6-8 reps then. Especially as you're 16 you don't want to be lifting too heavy. Lifting for mass will obviously give you strength though!
Anonymous
I am 16, Male.

I am planning on lifting some weights (not those two handed heavy ones). Just some one handed ones, not heavy.

some questions.

1. does it stun your growth? (I am 16)
2. If I keep on lifting weights, then I will get more muscles?
3. what happens if I build up alot of muscles, and then suddenly stop working out any more. Will all my muscles be gone?


i am 6ft and started weights when i was 15 , ok ok i stopped for a yr when i was 17 :frown: , but i am back and my arms are nice and big :p: . I always get bored with weights make sure u have ur ipod on shuffle :biggrin:
Reply 14
Lifting weights does NOT stunt your growth, that's a silly rumour someone started up ages ago. If anything, it helps promote growth as hormones are released.
Reply 15
ok thanks.

but why does does the olympics people who lift those 2 handed dumbbells, they are all so short!
shorter ppl tend to be stronger on certain lifts.
Reply 17
your muscles dont "turn into fat" once you stop lifting. You must realise that....
Yes fat and muscle are DIFFERENT tissue, one cannot turn into the other.

If you stop training you will lose muscle mass and may gain fat if you are eating more than you are burning off but your muscles wil not turn into fat- that is not possible.
Reply 19
Anonymous
ok thanks.

but why does does the olympics people who lift those 2 handed dumbbells, they are all so short!


You mean a barbell?